Trincomalee

Trincomalee 

                       

Trincomalee, one of the largest deep water harbours in the world, is located on the north-east part of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee has served Sri Lanka as an important seaport since the times of ancient days. On the Swami Rock stands one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sri Lanka. In Second World War, Trinco was the headquarters of Allied South-East Asia Command. 

Koneswaram Rock Temple and swami rock

The Koneswaram Kovil is found on Swami Rock, just above Fort Frederick. Forgive my lack of knowledge of Hinduism, but apparently this rebuilt temple is dedicated to Siva. The unbelievably intricate designs of Hindu temples, with their ornately carved figurines, is an incredible sight and this one is no exception. It's very colourful and you can walk around the grounds. The temple is built on top of the cliff, tottering right on the edge of the Indian Ocean, and there are fantastic views of the narrow strip of land that is Trinco town.Trinco h

as a historical fort and is well worth a meander. As you reach the penninusular you will see Swarmi Rock dropping 130 m into Bay of Bengal. Locally known as Lover’s Leap due to historic legend that a Dutch official’s daughter threw herself off after watching her unfaithful husband desert her by sea.

Also at the peak sits the important temple Koneswaram Kovil, replaced after the Portugese pushed the original into the sea in 1624. Many pilgrims from Jaffna visit this holy site and drive evil spirits away through smashing coconuts followed by prayers in the temple.

Many divers chose this area to see old temple relics but make sure that you check the conditions as during July, large numbers of Portugese man-of-war drift to the shore and may become stranded. The sting is serious.

Sacred tree

Behind Komeswaram Temple is a sacred tree, planted precariously on the cliff face. Worshippers tie strips of cloth to the branches as a prayer offering. Even if you don't want to tie some cloth, lean over to the tree and see the sheer 100 metres drop below. Unless you're afraid of heights of course! Apparently you can sometimes see turtles and other marine life swimming below the water.

Trincomalee Harbour

Trincomalee Harbour, 5th largest natural Harbour in the world

Trincomalee is famed for its world famous natural harbour. Once, described by admiral Lord Nelson as the finest harbour in the world when he visited aboard HMS Seashore in 1770. It is ranked as the world's 5th largest natural harbour. During the Second World War the harbour became the base for the combined East Asian Fleet of the Allied Powers.

For beach addicts, it is the ideal beach resort between April & November when the sea is at its best. Located at the mouth of Sri Lanka's longest river Mahaweli Ganga, Trincomalee's most famous landmark is Fort Fedrick, a centaury and a half of British fortifications can be found here. The cliff known as Swami Rock on the tip of Fort Federick promontory is associated with a tragic romantic tale woven around a Dutch maiden who is believed to have jumped to her death from this spot seeing her fickle lover sailing away

                                                               

The Thirukoneswaram Kovil, which stands on the top most pinnacle of the Swamy Rock, is a high venerated Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. World’s the most famous and beautiful beach on the East Coast is Nilaveli, situated at the centre of the 30 km strand of beach which runs uninterrupted from North to Trincomalee. Close to Nilaveli is Red Rock Beach - an estuary perch and pinkish colour boulders. A shot boat - ride off the beach and you may visit Pigeon Island.

Pigeon Island National Park 

One of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town inEastern Province. The island's name derives from the Rock Pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island was designated as a sanctuary in 1963. In 2003 it was redesignated as a national park. This national park is the 17th in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era.Pigeon Island is one of the several protected areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

                                                

Nilaveli Beach resort

Perhaps the best beaches of the East Coast and excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling. Just off shore lies Pigeon Island which has superb coves home to the Blue Rock pigeon and a shaley beach for sunbathers looking to escape for the day. At weekends the island is noisy and full of locals partying.

Lotus Park and Nilaveli Beach Garden are two relaxed guesthouses on the beach and close to dive Centres.

Nilaveli is surrounded by Asylum center for the homeless. Despite their poverty, the communities are extremely friendly and many will wave as they work in the local farms and tobacco fields.

The hot springs at Kanniyai are just 8km away and known for their therapeutic properties. There is some controversy as to their Hindu origin but the 7 natural hot spring wells each have a different temperature. Not for swimmers but be sure to get wet !

 

Lovers Leap

Next to Koneswaram Temple is Lovers Leap. The name kind of gives it away but it is indeed a favourite suicide spot, with a sheer drop to the ocean crashing against the rocks below. There's a memorial and shelter, commemorating the legend behind the name.

  

Apparently the daughter of an old Dutch official here threw herself off the cliff when her forbidden lover had to sail back to Europe, never to see her again. The story was dampened slightly when records revealed that the girl in question in fact grew old in the town, married with children. But the name and memorial remains anyway.

Fort Frederick

The small peninsula jutting out of Trinco town, near the stadium and the main shopping streets, is the Portuguese built Fort Frederick. It's still a working military base but, unusually, you can walk through it. Inside the fort grounds are plenty of colonial style British army buildings, cannons and other leftovers from previous inhabitants, and, bizarrely, loads of deer poking their heads out from behind the military offices.

 

 There isn't really a huge amount to see but it's a pleasant shaded walk, and one you have to make if you want to go to see Koneswaram Rock Temple on the cliff above the fort. Although you can walk around, remember it is still a military base so don't go too far off the road and, no matter how tempting those deer, it's not a good idea to take photos unless you ask permission. You can at the temple though.

The Bay

The bay (or rather bays) are what Trinco is most famous for. There are three main bays - Back Bay to the north of Fort Frederick, Dutch Bay to the east of the town, and the Inner Harbour to the west. Trinco is on a peninsula so the town is surrounded by water. The Inner Harbour is the main deep-water port, but all three are used for fishing and sailing. There isn't really anything to see, apart from the fishing boats coming in at the end of the day, but there are always lots of people about and a lively atmosphere. Take a walk around Dutch Bay at sunset and there are fishermen bringing in their catch, kids playing football, women sat around chatting and cooking and so on. 

 

Pillaiyar Kovil

Another interesting Hindu temple is Pillaiyar Kovil on Dockyard Road. While on the subject of religious buildings, there are also several mosques (try the North Coast Road) and churches worth a look too.

                                      Nuwara Eliya

                                        Nuwara Eliya, most famous hill resort in Sri Lanka, is located at the altitude of 2000 metres. Land of the renowned Ceylon tea, the waving mountains of Nuwara Eliya are carpeted by green tea plantations, punctuated with bublisng streams and waterfalls. This picturesque town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. It was once favorite hill station of the British in Sri Lanka. 

                      

Places of Interest

Horton Plains
Horton Plains, the highest plateau in the island, has been designated a National Park. The park consists of grassland interspersed with patches of forest. Some of the vegetation is unusual high altitude type. Touring the Horton Plains you enter a beautiful, silent, strange world providing some very good strolls. Species found in Horton Plains National Parks include Leopard, Sambar, and the endemic Purple-faced Langur. Endemic highland birds include Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, and Yellow-eared Bulbul. One must-see visit place here is the World's End. The Horton Plains shockingly ends here and drops off to nearly 700 metres, a thrilling sight.Trekkers love to visit this place




                          

  Hakgala Botanical Gardens

This garden was established in 1861 under the patronage of the British. It is located under the Hakgala Peak. Lying in the bracket of 5000-6000 feet in elevation, it is the highest set Botanic Gardens in the world. It has trees like English Oak, Himalayan Pines, Japanese Cedars and Cypress trees from California. 


Gregory's Lake
British Governor Sir William Gregory built this lake in 1873. Visitors can go for boating and rowing. 

Laksapana Falls

Origination from the Laksapana estate Laksapana Falls dives into the Maskeliya Oya. Camp down at Upper Glencairn, Dick Oya for viewing this fall. 

Devon Falls
Devon Falls, named after a pioneer coffe planter, are known for sharply dropping 97 metres. It is located 6 Km west of Thalawakelle. Vintage point is located at the 20th mile post and parking facility is also there. 

Victoria Park & Turf Club
Victoria Park, located within the town, is good for refreshing saunters and birdwatching. Pony and Horse riding is available at the turf club. 

Golf Club
Nuwara Eliya, developed in 1891, is at walking distance from the town center. The club offers 18 hole golf course for a green fee of about Rs 1500. You can rent equipments here. 




                                                


Oliphant Estate
First tea plant sent from China to Sri Lanka were planted here by Lawrence Oliphant which made his tea acreage soar to 100 acres. This fact alone makes travel to Oliphant Estate significant. 

Adam's Peak - The Pilgrim Path
Story of the old Pilgrim Path is carved on two rocks near the 28th milestone on the Nawalapitiya - Ambagamuwa road. The inscription dates back to around 1100AD. 

Lover's Leap
The point of Lover's Leap is located off the Nuwara Eliya - Kandapola Road. The waters are used to brew the famous Nuwara Eliya Beer. A story is associated with the place. It tells about a boy and girl who ended their life here when they were not allowed by their families to marry. 

Trekking and Hiking
Nuwara Eliya offers right basics for thrilling games like trekking and hiking. Pidurutalagala (2550m), highest mountain peak of Sri Lanka, is located just north of the town. Hiking is allowed to the altitude of 7000ft. One can enjoy several waterfalls along the track. 


Sri Pada Trail
Sri Pada is not only a trail but a pilgrimage to a summit considered sacrosanct the Sri Lankan people. This most popular hill trail in Sri Lanka to 2200m above sea level. On way you can enjoy panoramic views. You are advised to visit the summit between December and April. 

Ceylon Breweries
Sir Samuel Baker commenced the brewing of beer in Nuwara Eliya in 1881. Continuously in business since 1884, Ceylon Breweries is one of the finest in the island. 

Tea Trails
Ceylon Tea Trails, located in the hills of in Central Sri Lanka, is more than 4000 feet above sea level. Four coloni era bungalows, built for the British tea estate managers, still boastfully exist there. 

Shopping
One can shop for souvenirs like silk, batiks, masks, figurines and tea. One can also buy local music tapes and textile items. In April, temporary shops mushroom tetween the bus stand and the racecourse. If you are good in bartering good deals you can enjoy shopping here.

Festivals
Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, falling in April, are celebrated in Nuwara Eliya with plenty of zeal. All modes of accommodation are booked in advance during this period. Variety of bands participate publicly on this occasion. Motor racing and horse racing events are organised during this period. Other Sri Lankan festivals, both national and religious, are also celebrated with enthusiasm.

Climate
Nuwara Eliya, becaue of its high altitude, has cool climate with mean annual temperature of 16C. In night in can be quite cold in winters. However as the tropical sun climbs in the sky it fast becomes warm.

History
The British developed Nuwara Eliya as a hill retreat during the colonial era. The English cooled themselves here and enjoyed games like polo, cricket and fox hunting. Native Sinhalese travellers also frequently visited the site.

The town was founded by Samuel Baker as a hill retreat for the British during the colonial era, where typical English pastimes including fox hunting, polo and cricket were played. Several buildings and parks here retain features from colonial period.

Transportation
Reaching Nuwara Eliya
From Colombo you can reach Nuwara Eliya via Kandy or Hatton. Though both the roads are narrow and bumpy you have lovely scenic views. Most public buses take Kandy route. You could also travel by train but it takes longer time than bus. However, then you would not have to face bumpy roads. The train would go to Nanu Oya and then you would have to take a taxi or bus.

Getting Around
Everything in Nuwara Eliya falls in walking distance. However, you can also use three-wheelers for getting around.

Travelling To Neighborhood
You can rent a car or take bus. You can find taxis parked on the left side of road from the temple to the market area.

Distance to Major Cities

Colombo	180 Km
Kandy	76 Km

Accommodation
Plenty of hotels and guest houses are located in Nuwara Eliya. However in the peak season of March to May you are advised to book in advance.

Sri Lanka - Dance

 Sri Lanka - Dance

                           Sri Lanka has a rich dande comprising three main schools: Kandyan, Kolam (masked Dance Drama) and Devil Dancing. If you go to Kandy you'll certainly have the opportunity to witness Kandyan dance performances - a riot of movement, colour and sparkles fed by the arthythmic pounding of drums. Kolam is a series of dance-theatre pieces exploring the themes of everyday life, while devil dancing is performed to exorcise evil spirit. You're most likely to see kolam and devil dancing at Ambalangoda.

                                                                                                                      

Kandyan Dance  This Dance form flouished under the Kandyan Kingd and is today considered the national dance of Sri Lanka. There are four types: pantheru, naiyaki, udekki and ves. In addition there are 18 vannamas (representation in Dance of animal and bidrs). These includesthe gajaga vannama (elephant) and the mayura vannma (peacock). The Ramayana has provided plenty of material for the dances, especially Rama's dash to Lanka to save Sita, aided by the loyal Hanuman, but over the centuries other stories have been absorbed, including thoses about kings and heroes. Under the Kandyan kings, the dance became an integral part of the great Kandy Esala Perahera.

Masked Dance  There are four folk-drama forms:kolam,sokari, nadagan and pasu. Best known is the kolam (Tamil for costume or guise). Kolam has many characters - one estimate puts them at 53 - many of which are grotesque, with exaggerated deformities. These are the demons, who may have a cobra emerging from one nostril, bulging eyes or tusks. Performance are traditionally held at the New Year, over a period of thress to five nights. Included in the coast of performersare singers, two drummers and a master of ceremonies. The Whole thing kicks off with songs in praise of the Buddha. The master of ceremonies. The whole thing kicks off with songs in praise of the Buddha. The master of ceremonies then explains how the kolam began (an including king's wife had carving while pregnant to see a masked dance-drama).

Devil Dance  Traditionally, devil dancing is performed to free a person from demons, evil spirits or just plain bad luck caused by malignant spirit. The devil dancers themselves belong to a low-caste community and specialise in this art form. There are many types of devil dance. One, the sanni yakku, is performed to exorcise the disease demon. The demon is represented by a range of characters including a pregnant woman and a mother. Other ances include the kohomba kankariya, which is performed to ensure prosperity, and the bali, which is performed for the benifit of havenit beings.

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy, Sri Lanka

                                                   A walker's paradise

The location of the finest of its kind in Asia 

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn't be better located. In the Mediterranean climate of Kandy, the gateway to the Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level, were tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli (Great sandy river), the largest river of Sri Lanka.
The town of Peradeniya is located at a distance of 110km from Colombo and another 6km over the Peradeniya Birdge and you are at Kandy, home to the sacred Temple of Tooth.

Peradeniya, the name
Peradeniya is believed to take its exotic name from Sinhalese names Pera (guava) and Deniya (a plain). The name also reveals, although Guava is not indigenous to Sri Lanka, introduction of the fruit to the island and cultivation had occurred even prior to the era of British Colonialists in Sri Lanka.

                                 

The official establishment of Peradeniya Botanical Gardens during the colonial era


It was British colonialist rulers (1815-1948) of Ceylon, who destroyed the invaluable forest cover of a thousand wooded hills from Kandy to Badulla of Central Highlands of Ceylon that was protected by the gentle sway of Buddhism, which indoctrinated the respect for all living beings.
The wooded hills were converted to hill after hill of Ceylon Coffee and following the devastating "coffee rust" (a leaf blight - Hemileia vastratrix) in 1869 to seamless hill plantations of Ceylon Tea.
The very same British Colonialist rulers of Ceylon established the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens that contribute, today, towards the enlightenment of concepts of floriculture conservation, birdlife conservation, butterfly conservation, biodiversity and sustainability of the island of Sri Lanka: 5% of the school children of Sri Lanka visit the Peradeniya gardens every year.

The vegetation
The vegetation is purely tropical, being characterized by an abundance of climbing plants or lianas, palms, bamboos, pandanus or screw-pines, epiphytes (orchids, ferns etc.), and lofty trees, the latter often having buttresses roots. The leaves are generally large, thick and leathery; the flowers usually brilliant and considerable in size, and the fruits often of immense proportions and borne on the trunks of trees or older branches.
H.F. Macmillan, F.L.S, F.R. H.S. 1906 (Curator) 

4000 labeled species of flora at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

A signboard at the entrance, with a map, feature a numbered circuit from 1-30. The corresponding numbers are placed at strategic points on the route, black on a yellow background. 60 ha (150 acres) gardens, where you can easily stroll around a whole day, are stuffed with a bewildering variety of local & foreign tree & plant species. There are around ten thousand plants & trees inclusive of 4000 labeled species. One of the most interesting sites here is bizarre-looking snake creeper, whose tangled aerial roots look just like a writhing knot of vipers.

Main entrance, River Drive and avenues
Main entrance opens up the River Drive which takes you straight down to the great circle and then on to the suspension bridge over the River Mahaweli. River drive branches off to a number of avenues: Double Coconut Avenue, Cook's Pine Avenue, Royal Palm Avenue, Palmyrah Palm Avenue and Cabbage Palm Avenue

The spice garden, Orchid house The spice garden to the right of entrance is replete with exotic spices.
Cardamom, Coves, Pepper & Vanilla. We follow the path to the right, right into the Orchid House with an outstanding collection.

The great circle and memorial trees
The great circle is a grassy central area of nearly 4 acres in extent. Around the circle is a diverse array of trees planted by dignitaries, who had visited the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens.

A "Flamboyante" of Madagascar (Poinciana regia), planted by Princess Henry of Prussia in 1899; a "Bo" (Peepal) tree (Fiscus religiosa), planted in 1875 by King Edward VII; a "Na" tree, or Ceylon Ironweed (Mesua ferrea), planted in 1891 by Czar of Russia; Brownea grandiceps tree planted by the King of Greece in 1891; Amherstia nobilis, planted by  Prince Henry of Prussia in 1898;‘Asoka" tree (Saraca indica) planted by Emperor of Austria in 1893; "Cannonball" tree (Couroupita guianensis), planted by the Prince of Wales in 1901.

Alongside generations of European royalty, there are trees planted by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India; Yuri Gagarin, the first man to circle the orbit of earth, thereby cracking the door to space;  Marshal Tito, the man who rebuilt Yugoslavia devastated in the Second World War; U Thant, the Secretary-General of the United Nations during the decade from 1961 to 1971 & Supermac Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the period of  1957 to 1963. Between the great circle & the great lawn is the Herbarium. Then there is an arboretum. 

                       

Lawns, pavilions, sandwiches & a cup of teaThere are extensive well-kept lawns, pavilions, an Octagon Conservatory, fernery, banks of Burmese, Chinese & Japanese bamboos & numerous flower borders with cannas, hibiscus, chrysanthemums, croton & colorful bougainvillaea. You will see unusual exotic species, especially palms (Palmyra, talipot, royal, cabbage) & Ficus elastica (latex-bearing fig or "Indian rubber tree" with buttress roots), an amazing avenue of drunken looking pines & some magnificent old specimen trees. Then there are Ebony collection, Fiscus collection, Cycad Collection, Flower garden, Medicinal Garden, Cactus house and Plant house.
Natural pavilion

Grown from a sapling brought from East Indies, huge Javan fig tree covering 1600 sq. meters of the lawn, with its sprawling roots & branches create a remarkable natural pavilion.

The Cabbage Palm AvenueThe Cabbage Palm Avenue from the South America was planted in 1905. Walking along the stately avenue of Royal Palms (1885) we find fruit bats in large colonies hanging in the trees. Oh! Yes, true to their style, upside down. 

Cannonball avenueCannonball Avenue is lined with beautiful cannonball trees, wreathed in creepers from which hang the large, round fruits. These Sal trees are loved by the Sinhalese. The flowers have a singular shape: a tiny stupa shaped bud in the centre is shaded by a cobra like hood & surrounded by tiny florettes which resemble a crowd of worshipers. It is believed Prince Siddhartha (who was to become Gautama Buddha) was born in a park of Sal trees called Lumbini, near the Sakyan kingdom of Kapilavastu in then north India, now the southern region of Nepal.


Talipot palmsTalipot palms (Corypha umbraculifera) are the easiest to identify with its enormous leaves. The talipot palm is one of Sri Lanka's botanical celebrities, an arboreal oddity which flowers just once in its lifetime, after about forty years, producing the largest cluster of flowers in the world. In Kandyan times the enormous leaves reaching a height of 10 m were used to make tents by sewing a couple of leaves together. "One single Leaf being so broad & large, that it will cover some fifteen or twenty men, & keep them dry when it rains" wrote Robert Knox. Talpot leaves were utilized to produce fine ultra long lasting solidparchments called Ola, in Sri Lanka & India as early as in 500 BC. Young talipot leaves were boiled, dried in the sun, exposed to dew & smoothed & stretched. The treated leaves were then engraved with writing using steel stylus to cut in the characters. Then the engraved leaf was smeared with ink made out of a resin blended with finely powdered charcoal. The great chronicle of Sri Lanka (Mahawamsa) & all other ancient books were written on these treated, cut & loosely bound talipot palm-leaf parchments.

Artificial lakeIn the centre of the Gardens is an artificial lake with water plants including the giant water lily & papyrus reeds. Beside the lake is a white-domed rotunda commemorates George Gardener, the    Superintendent of the park during 1844-1849.   

 

"Coco de Mer" or "Double Coconut Palm"One of the rarest plants in the world, Coco de Mer (Lodoicea sechellarum) is on a path leading to this monument of Gardner. This plant has the largest & heaviest fruit or nut in the plant kingdom, weighing an average some10 - 20 kg. They take between five to eight years to mature & are surprisingly productive. It is not unusual to have 20 nuts on a tree. They are all carefully numbered. Native Coco de Mer are only found in Praslin, an island in theSeychelles. Strolling along the path we reach lily tank which is surrounded by giant bamboo, some 40m tall that grows 2-3 cm a day.


Suspension Bridge

Suspension Bridge across the River Mahaweli takes us to the School of Tropical Agriculture at Gannoruwa hill, where research is carried out into various important spices & medicinal herbs as well as into tea, coffee, coca, rubber, coconuts & varieties of rice & other cash crops.


Peradeniya campusJust across the main road from the gardens is Peradeniya campus of Sri Lanka University (1942), built in the old Kandyan style in an impressive setting of a large park with the River Mahaweli running through it & the surrounding hillocks.

The History of Peradeniya Royal Botanical Park

The history of the park wouldn't take a backseat to its geography, terrain or vegetation. Conceived originally in 1371 as the Queen's pleasure garden, it was developed by King Kirti Sri Rajasinhe (1747-1778) where royal visitors were entertained. It was converted into Botanical Gardens in 1821, by the British during the deputy governorship of General Sir Edward Barnes, six years after fall of the last King of Sri Lanka.

Alexander Moon, the botanist
Alexander Moon, a diligent student of the Ceylon flora was appointed the superintendent of the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. In the year 1824, Mr. Moon published a "Catalogue of Ceylon Plants" with the description of 1,127 plates referring to same by native names as well as botanical names. Sri Lanka's first tea trees were planted here at Peradeniya Gardens in 1824, though the full commercial potential wasn't to be realized for another half a century.

All prime imported crops - Coffee, Tea, Nutmeg, Rubber & Cinchona - were tested in Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens. That was during the enterprising governorship (1824-1831) of Sir Edward Barnes. Imported crops, Tea & Rubber together with the local crop of Coconut became mainstay of the economy of the island in the time to come. After the death of Mr. Alexander Moon, a succession of superintendents followed.

George Gardner, the famous traveler botanist
In 1844, an aptly named Scotsman was appointed the Superintendent of Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens: Mr. George Gardner (born in1809 or 1812), a son of a gardener to 5th Earl of Dunmore. Mr. Gardener's deeds had already well surpassed the carry of his name: his expeditionary account of "Catalogue of Brazilian plants"numbered a collection of enormous 6100 plants.



Gardener collected the specimens during his four years of explorations in Brazil & was responsible for importing Rubber as well as Cinchona to Ceylon. Both of these imports have been blessings to the island; Rubber becoming a prime export & bark of Cinchona tree producing anti malaria drug Quinine.
Mr. Gardner, with great industry, launched upon the development of Peradeniya Gardens till his tragic death in 1849 with a fit of apoplexy at the Rest House of Nuwara Eliya, the prime sanatorium of the colonialists in the Central Highlands of Ceylon. His untimely death left his work towards a Ceylon Flora incomplete. "Gardner Monument" was erected at the park to his memory.

Dr. Thawaits's 30 years of unbroken selfless service to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens

Gardner was succeeded by a man who wouldn’t be his second best: Dr. Thwaites. Dr Thwaits’s term of service extended over thirty unbroken years, during which he never left the Island of Ceylon. A devoted student of the science of Botany, Dr. Thwaites is credited with bringing world wide recognition to the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens. He retired in 1880, and died in Kandy in 1882.

While their fellow Englishmen were busy game hunting, killing thousands of elephants, killing mammals and birds, those illustrious botanists of Ceylon at the Perdenaiya Royal Botanical Gardens, contributed with their tireless work towards enlightening their follow colonialists with the value in conservation of biodiversity and floriculture of our Sri Lanka Holidays.